Bobbin chuck



Jufiy 4, 1967 L. B. SMITH 3,329,363

BOBBIN CHUCK Filed Dec. 30, 1964 g Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. LLOYD B. SMITH BYCiZ E W AGENT L- B- SMITH BOBBIN CHUCK July 4, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 30, 1964 INVENTOR. LLOYD B. SMITH United States Patent 3,329,363 BOBBIN CHUCK Lloyd B. Smith, Birmingham, Ala., assignor to Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 422,229 3 Claims. (Cl. 242-465) This invention relates to high speed textile chuck devices and more particularly to a textile bobbin chuck including resilient self-centering means and centrifugal gripping means for positively clutching a bobbin and for providing balanced conditions during winding operations.

In winding yarn on bobbins with conventional bobbin chuck apparatus, it is common to encounter vibration, run-out and clutching problems. Endeavors in the textile industry are directed to providing bobbin chucks designed to minimize the usual problems.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a bobbin chuck adapted to positively clutch a bobbin employing a plurality of centrifugal means and adapted to dampen vibratory and off-centering forces by supporting the rotating members resiliently.

Accordingly, the bobbin chuck embodying the invention comprises a resiliently, rotatably mounted bobbin supporting spool carrying a plurality of centrifugal gripping means distributed symmetrically throughout the spool. In operation, the centrifugal means are displaced radially outwardly and register with the wall of the bore of a bobbin mounted on the spool. The bobbin is positively gripped while the resilient members absorb vibration and maintain alignment of the rotating parts within the axis of symmetry.

The following detailed description and the accompanying drawing provide a better understanding of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view, partly in section, showing one embodiment of the bobbin chuck embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation end view looking in from the left side of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevation view, partly in section, showing another embodiment of the bobbin chuck embodying the invention; and

FIGURE 4 is an elevation end view looking in from the right side of FIG. 3.

In the drawing, it will be understood that the bobbin chucks illustrated are each symmetrically constructed.

Referring to FIG. 1, the novel bobbin chuck comprises a shaft or spindle 12 flanged at one end for mounting to a fixed member and free at its opposite end. An annular sleeve 14 concentrically surrounds shaft 12 in spaced relation defining an annular space therebetween.

Sleeve 14 is rotatably mounted on shaft 12 by bearings 16. In the illustrated bearing arrangement one bearing 16 is mounted on a sleeve 20 in turn mounted on the free end of shaft 12. To stress the bearings a sleeve 18 and a helical spring 22 are mounted in alignment on shaft 12 between bearings 16. Spring 22 at one end exerts a force against sleeve 18 abutting against sleeve 20 and at it opposite end thereof exerts a force against one of the bearings. Retainer rings 24 fitted into grooves in sleeve 14 and a clamping nut 26 fitted into a threaded bore in shaft 12 retain and clamp the bearings on shaft 12.

The annular space formed between shaft 12 and annular sleeve 14 is sealed at its ends to form a lubrication chamber 28 by means of a sealing cap 30 secured to sleeve 14 at the free end of shaft 12 and a labyrinth seal 32 secured to sleeve 14 adjacent the flange end thereof. A longitudinal bore 34 extends through a portion of shaft 12 and opens into lubrication chamber 28. An oil breather "ice passage connecting with bore 34 is formed in the flange of shaft 12.

Resiliently mounted and concentrically surrounding annular sleeve 14 in spaced relation is a bobbin supporting spool 36. Spool 36 is mounted on sleeve 14 by a plurality of inserts 38. Each insert 38 comprises a screw portion 40 having a resilient and preferably neoprene plug 42 at one end thereof. Screw 40 is turned into threaded bores extending through spool 36 and resilient plugs 42 fit securely into corresponding cavities formed in the outer surface of annular sleeve 14 so as to resiliently connect spool 38 to sleeve 14.

A plurality of centrifugal pins 44 are employed to grip a bobbin 46 mounted on the spool (FIG. 3). Pins 44 are slideably mounted in corresponding radial openings formed through the spool 36 wall. Each pin 44, preferably, has a head at its inner end and a retainer ring mounted oppositely thereof to retain the pins in the holes. Pins 44 are longer than their corresponding openings in spool 36. Preferably, pins 44 are provided with a larger head area in relation to the area of the end contacting the bobbin.

Spool 36 has a circumferential groove 48 at one end to support bobbin 46. An annular ring or screw thread 49 is provided on the outer periphery of spool 36 to axially align and grip the bobbin on the chuck in initiating a winding operation.

In operation, bobbin 46 is mounted on spool 36 and a drive roll is brought into surface engagement with the spool. The bobbin is axially aligned by screw threads 49. A yarn from a supplied source thereof is laced so as to wind on bobbin 46. Upon rotation of bobbin 46 to higher speeds, centrifugal force displaces pins 44 radially outward into contact with the surface of the bore of bobbin 36. The higher the speed of rotation of bobbin 46 the greater the gripping force applied thereto. Bobbin 46 is gripped at a plurality of symmetrical locations distributed over the area of the bore to balance the force applied thereto. Bobbin vibration is dampened and misalignment corrected by the resilient means. When the bobbin is packaged and yarn Winding discontinued, centrifugal force no longer exerts a force on pins 44 and the bobbin is released from their grip. Thus, bobbin chuck 10 is simple to operateat start-up, an operator need only to place the bobbin on spool 36 and begin winding yarn, and at shut-down the bobbin can be removed immediately. No locking and unlocking preliminary and post, respectively, procedural steps are required.

Another embodiment of a bobbin chuck 60 of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment an annular sleeve 62 is spaced from and resiliently supported on the free end of a shaft 64, preferably, by resilient neoprene mounts 66. At one end sleeve 62 is attached to the neoprene mount 66 by conventional means such as pins embedded in mount 66 while at the opposite end the sleeve is supported directly on another type of conventional annular neoprene ring 66 having a metal covering. It will be understood that the mounts may be alike and that any other conventional type may beused. An annular bobbin supporting spool 68 is rotatably and concentrically mounted in spaced relation on sleeve 62 with bearings 70 interposed therebetween. An annular lubrication chamber 72 is formed in the space therebetween by closing off one end with a labyrinth seal 74 and the other end with a sealing ring cap and retainer assembly 76. A stress is applied to the bearings 70 by means of a sleeve 78 slideably mounted between bearings 70 anda spring 80 mounted on sleeve 78. Spring 80 abuts against a collar on the sleeve 78 at one end and at its opposite end abuts against a collar of a bearing sleeve 82 on which one of the bearings is mounted. Centrifugal pins 84 are slideably mounted in radial openings in bobbin sleeve 68. Each pin 84 has a head at one end and a retainer at its opposite end. The shank of each pin 84 is longer than the width of the bobbin sleeve wall to allow pins 84 to move radially outwardly from shaft 64 when subjected to centrifugal force. A screw thread 86 is provided on the outer surface of sleeve 68. The embodiment in FIG. 3 operates in the same manner described for the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Although the illustrated structures show the features of the invention adapted to a surface drive apparatus, it is readily seen that shaft 12 of FIG. 1 may be rotatably journaled and adapted to be driven and that sleeve 36 could be mounted resiliently on the rotatable shaft to provide an axially driven bobbin chuck. It will be understood that modifications and variations from the illustrated embodiments are expected to be covered within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

I claim: 1. A bobbin chuck device comprising, a shaft, a first spaced, concentrically arranged sleeve surrounding said shaft, journal means rotatably supporting said first sleeve on said shaft, a second spaced, concentrically arranged sleeve surrounding said first spaced sleeve, resilient means interconnecting said first and second sleeves, and a plurality of centrifugal grip members slideably mounted in the wall of said second sleeve and subject to outward radial displacement responsively to centrifugal force to grip a bobbin normally mounted on said second sleeve.

2. A bobbin chuck device as in claim 1, further comprising means at each end of said first sleeve for defining a lubrication chamber in said space between said first sleeve and said shaft, and a bore in said shaft opening outwardly therefrom and communicating with said lubrication chamber for supplying a lubricant thereto.

3. A bobbin chuck device comprising,

a shaft,

a first spaced, concentrically arranged sleeve surrounding said shaft,

resilient means supporting said first sleeve on said shaft,

a second spaced, concentrically arranged sleeve surrounding said first spaced sleeve,

journal means connecting said first and second sleeves,

and

a plurality of centrifugal grip members slideably mounted in the wall of said second sleeve and subject to outward radial displacement responsively to centrifugal force to grip a bobbin normally mounted on said second sleeve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,238,352 8/1917 Smith 24246.2 2,558,210 6/1951 Egee 57-130 3,042,324 7/ 1962 Kinney 242-18 FOREIGN PATENTS 670,595 9/ 1963 Canada.

STANLEY N. GILREATH, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BOBBIN CHUCK DEVICE COMPRISING, A SHAFT, A FIRST SPACED CONCENTRICALLY ARRANGED SLEEVE SURROUNDING SAID SHAFT, JOURNAL MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID FIRST SLEEVE ON SAID SHAFT, A SECOND SPACED, CONCENTRICALLY ARRANGED SLEEVE SURROUNDING SAID FIRST SPACED SLEEVE, RESILIENT MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SLEEVES, AND 